A\N: That was much better – we passed the '150 reviews' barrier. Thanks to all of you – Chiliz (If it wasn't for you and your death threats, I wouldn't have this written by now), Lion of Gryffindor, Hermione @ Heart, tez, rainbowlite606, Carmel March, Angelfirenze, boing_bang_keplunk, Ainariel-Helyanwe, Rathien1, Chrissy, Tei'la, Lady Jellybean, Tex, Lynette, StarRuby, PrincessSkywalkerOrgana, Anita Coffee.

Cliffhanger warning: This chapter ends in a cliffhanger, which will make you wanna kill me, I think. So if you have a weak heart and short nerves – wait until I add another chapter. Also, I'm not sure how soon I'll be able to update, I have a busy week coming. I'm really sorry for that, and I'll try to do it ASAP.

Chapter 17: Halloween

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Two weeks passed, and the attack was almost forgotten. With the obvious exception of those whose friends or family were hurt, the other students have returned to their ordinary lives – as much as life could be ordinary in Hogwarts. Ron and Ginny had returned quickly, telling the others that Percy was now perfectly fine, and that he had made up with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. As much as Harry was happy for Ron, he couldn't help but wonder whether Percy could really be trusted, but he kept his suspicions to himself. In the meantime, he had a lot of things to keep him busy. Although he was taking only five subjects, he had lots of work to do, and spent most of his free time in the library. All of his teachers were giving him great amounts of homework. Professors McGonagall and Sprout were giving them essays to write – most of them longer than five feet, which was much longer than they were used to. Professor Flitwick made them research ways of making new spells, based on their previous knowledge, but also continued to teach them useful charms. All of that together was a huge strain, which Harry had to deal with. And that is before I start thinking about Potions, he told himself one day, sitting in the library, looking for hexes for the Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson, thinking about the pile of homework he had to do. Potions has always been Harry's worst subject (Except, perhaps, Divination), but this year he had more reasons than ever to succeed in it. Which is why he was trying as hard as he could not to give Snape a reason to complain about him. It wasn't easy at all, due to the fact that Snape was a master in finding causes to punish Harry, but until now, Harry manage to survive the lessons more or less successfully, and he was putting most of his efforts in the Potions homework, more than in any other subject.

But homework wasn't the only stressful thing in Harry's life. He also had Quidditch to think about, and was spending long hours on practicing with the team and devising new game tactics. True, he had excellent players, but Harry knew that the Slytherin team (he first against which they would have to play) was very strong, and that he needed more than excellent players if he wanted to win the game, and the cup.

One evening, in the middle of October, Harry and Ron returned to the common room after a particularly tiring Quidditch practice, which included a Bludger hitting Jerry Trest and breaking his finger. Harry had to endure a long speech from Madam Pomfrey, about the dangers of playing Quidditch and the needed precautions (The first of which was – "Never Play Quidditch!"), before she released him and started taking care of Jerry's finger.

When they finally got to the common room, the first thing they saw was a notice about a trip to Hogsmeade, scheduled for the morning of Halloween, just before the feast.

"Oooh, that's good – I need some new quills, my old one is completely battered," said Ron, who had his quill back since his second year in Hogwarts.

"I don't understand it…" said Hermione, joining Harry and Ron, who were now sitting close to the fire, warming up. "How can they let us go to Hogsmeade when Voldemort is around and attacking?"

"Don't be such a spoilsport!" said Ron.

Harry frowned. "There must be some sort of protection there – otherwise they really wouldn't do it… I don't think Dumbledore is reckless enough to let five hundred* students wander freely in Hogsmeade, if it's unguarded."

"I guess you are right," said Hermione, dropping the subject.

~*~*~*~

The morning of October 31st was bright and shiny – a perfect weather for going to the village. On their way to the front doors, Harry, Ron and Hermione met Neville, who was looking a bit gloomy.

"What happened? Aren't you coming?" asked Harry.

"No…" Neville answered. "I have to do that essay for Herbology, it's due for tomorrow, and I haven't even started yet. Besides, I don't have much to do in Hogsmeade anyway."

"Well, if you're sure…" said Harry.

After buying a new quill for Ron, they went, as usual, to the Three Broomsticks. They spent some time sitting there and drinking Butterbeer, watching the people around them. Harry kept having a feeling that someone was watching them as well, but the place was so packed that it was not surprising. As they were leaving the inn, he looked around, and then saw that he was right – someone was indeed watching them.

"D'you know who was in there?" he asked his friends, who didn't notice anything.

"Half of the school, why?" replied Ron.

"No, someone specific – try to guess," Harry said, now smiling.

"No idea," Ron shrugged. Hermione looked at Harry interestedly.

"There was this witch in the corner that looked very much like Tonks," said Harry. "I can swear that it was her, even though she had long black hair, and eyes in different colours."

"Really? Let's go back then, talk to her, see what's going on," suggested Ron.

"She probably doesn't want to be seen, if she's in disguise," said Hermione wisely.

"Why do you always have to be so logical?" asked Ron, sighing dramatically. Just then, something happened.

"Ouch!"

"What happened?" Ron and Hermione said together.

"I felt like something hit me on the shoulder," said Harry, massaging his shoulder. "But I can't see anything." He turned around. There were people walking down the street, but he couldn't see anyone close enough to them to hit him.

"Maybe Malfoy now has an Invisibility Cloak and it was him," Ron made another suggestion.

"Maybe, but I think that in that case he'd do something more sophisticated than hitting me on the shoulder," frowned Harry.

"Are you sure you didn't imagine it?" asked Hermione tentatively.

"I don't think so… Maybe Voldemort has found a way of making random parts of my body hurt at times," grinned Harry. Hermione smiled, while Ron was trying to ignore hearing Voldemort's name.

They visited Honeydukes and filled their sweets supplies, and finally, after seeing some of the Weasley Wizard Wheezes products in Zonko's joke-shop, headed back to the school.

The Halloween feast that night was as magnificent as ever. Large pumpkins were floating in the air, emitting sounds here and there, trying to fall on the students that passed beneath them (The spell seemed to prevent any actual harm – none of the pumpkins hit anyone, as far as Harry could see). Dumbledore was wearing a bright orange hat, reminding Harry of Ron's bedroom, which was covered in posters of the Chudley Cannons. The food was delicious, and Harry and Ron were among the last students to leave the hall, as they were trying to eat a bit of everything. Hermione sat with them all that time, reading a small book. Harry couldn't see its full title, but he was pretty sure that he could see the words 'House Elves' in it.

"I can't move," groaned Ron, climbing the stairs on the way to the Gryffindor tower.

"Not surprising, considering the amount of food you ate down there," replied Hermione. "Oh, Harry, I forgot to tell you – they changed the password – it's Candle-light."

"Candle-light," said Harry a couple of minutes later, being the first to reach the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Indeed, indeed," she smiled, and opened the pass to the room. The three of them climbed in. Hermione went to the girls' dormitories, and Harry and Ron continued to climb up to their bedroom.

"Ron, finally!" exclaimed Neville when they entered the room. "I have something to tell you." He looked really excited.

"Wha-a-a-a-t?" yawned Ron.

"You remember that rat you had – Scabbers? The one that you thought was eaten by Hermione's cat?"

"Yes," said Ron slowly.

"I saw him today here in the common room!" said Neville.

"What?" Ron glanced at Harry. "No, Neville, you're probably wrong – Crookshanks ate him, you know… You probably saw a different rat…"

"No, it was him, I'm sure – I even saw that he had a missing toe on his paw. Actually, it looked weird – I probably imagined, but it seemed like he had a silver toe instead," said Neville excitedly.

Ron and Harry exchanged looks. Thoughts were rushing through Harry's head – if it was Pettigrew…. But no, it couldn't be… Why not?? Said a voice in his head.

"Harry – the map – look at the map," Ron cried. Harry rushed to his trunk, and started to search for the Marauder's Map. "Oh, come on, where is it," he muttered.

Finally, he found it. "I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good," he whispered, tapping the map with his wand. Lines started appearing on the parchment, spreading from the point where he tapped it. Harry scanned the map with his eyes, and then he saw it – on the edge of the map, deep inside the Forbidden Forest, was a tiny dot, labeled Peter Pettigrew. Harry got up with a start, but a moment later, the name disappeared – he was gone…

A\N: He he he he he… I told you there would be a cliffhanger; it's your fault that you chose to read it. *Sticks tongue at you*

Now you have an excellent cause to review – it encourages me to write faster. Death threats don't do the job; so don't bother (*cough* chiliz *cough* I have a cold you see, maybe I should get a cough drop). But money can make me write it really quick, so it's up to you. *Evil grin*